Women Artists of Mithila: A Quest for Legal Equality

Abstract

The region of Mithila is associated with the beautiful Madhubani paintings which have mesmerized everyone and are sought after by connoisseurs of art all over the world. As Madhubani paintings increasingly acquired prominence, it raised an art form, created and nurtured by women, to national and international recognition and turned some of these women artists into international celebrities. Madhubani painting is no longer confined to being a folk art but has rather transformed itself into becoming a fine art. However, commercialisation and modernisation of the traditional art form have eroded the essence and purity of this ancient art form. However, the women painters, despite being the repositories of this traditional art form, unfortunately, face economic deprivation as they do not get their due share in the whole enterprise. Thus, except for a few well-known artists, most women artists face acute financial hardship. The paper will take into account the experiences of these women painters, identify their problems, and highlight the lacunae in labour laws so that remedial measures can be looked into.